Fear Levels

Ever since that fateful day back in 1863, the Earth has been a more frightening place--and it's only getting worse, thanks to the efforts of the Reckoners and their minions. You see, the whole gang is working with a single goal in mind, to transform the planet into a veritable Hell and thus bring on the Reckoning. They've been laboring toward that end for over six decades now, so as you can imagine, the world's become pretty terrifying place to live.

The Reckoners have learned that getting too heavy-handed can actually hurt their cause. If an abomination is too blatant in its actions, it produces far less fear in the long run than one that slowly whittles down its victims one at a time, with the survivors never knowing when it will strike next. If it goes on a rampage down Main Street, it quickly becomes a target for Tommy guns and shotguns.

An area's Fear Level, which is a measure of how scared the local population is, is reflected in its surroundings. This, in turn, inflicts a penalty to all Fear checks characters have to make equal to the area's Fear Level. Unless otherwise noted, assume locations found in a particular area share the same Fear Level. Even within specific regions it's possible for Fear Levels to vary a great deal.

Fear Level 0:

This is a happy place where people live in bright little communities complete with wood-frame houses and white picket fences. The sky is blue, the trees are green, and no one's afraid to go out after dark.

Fear Level 1:

Some people openly believe that monsters and such exist, but most deny it when asked. The sky is still blue, but it sure feels like a good idea to have a friend, a gun, or both if you go for a walk after dark.

Fear Level 2:

Kids and adults alike steer clear of the old "haunted" plantation, and if a ball rolls into a storm drain, just let it go, friend. While there's no discernible change to the geography, the shadows are a little longer and a little darker--especially near the stranger places. You're not activating your life insurance policy if you go out alone most nights, but you're definitely raising your rates.

Fear Level 3:

At this point, things take a turn for the worse. Some poor sap goes missing every now and then and rumors of ghosts or strange creatures lurking in the bayou are fairly common. Nobody really talks about it, but normal folks don't travel these areas without friends or a damn good reason. Thanks to both the Reckoners' efforts and the soul-crushing effect of the Depression, this is the Fear Level in most places right now.

Fear Level 4:

There are more disappearances, and when a body is found, its often one piece at a time. The land itself starts to mirror the Fear Level. The very windows on buildings seem to watch you and strange sounds echo menacingly from dark alleys. The static on the radio occasionally seems to whisper your name.

Fear Level 5:

Only the most stubborn--or those with something to hide themselves--doubt there's something wrong at this level. Most everyone's frightened and many openly admit to seeing things they can't quite explain. Weeds choke out flowers, and dark clouds seem to constantly chase the sun in an effort to blot it out. Don't venture out at night without a gang of Roscoe-packing pallies.

Fear Level 6 (Deadland):

It gets no worse than this. Nothing describes this except the word "nightmare". Abominations run rampant, abandoned buildings look like skulls, and the shadows in the alleyways are definitely following you. Those voices on the radio that whisper your name do so in the voice of a dead friend. Any schmuck foolish enough to go out after dark is rarely seen again.

Mestifo and the 3 Manitous

Session One (11-10-2017) Part I

Cis, Anne-Marie, Faye, Vincent, Cecil, and Moritimer were all having a good time listening to the beautiful, ebony, singer Delilah Starr at New Orleans most famous bar The Old Absinthe House. Fat Dan, the owner, was slinging drinks while the servers were busy attending to the patrons. The bar was already filled with smoke from pipes, cigars, and cigarettes. But the smoke increased to a point where it was hard to see and then he appeared. Mesitfo.

A tall, dark cloaked figure with a van-dyke beard appeared out of the fog while everyone else had been frozen except for the heroes. He introduced himself and insulted almost everyone there with dramatic flair. He had a tendency to laugh maniacally at times and then he got back to business at hand. He mentioned Faye Watson's past transgressions and blamed her for the release of 3 Manitous. He warns that if these Manitous continue to be left alone that great dread will come to this plane of existence and everything the they know and ever loved will be in a world of darkness and decay. 

He gives them an iron rod and a brief explanation on how to use it to capture the Manitou in the rod:

1. Rod will vibrate when near an inhabited human
2. Must capture the possessed human in a circle of salt
3. Say the enchanted word that only Faye knows while pointing the rod at the creature in the circle of salt.
4. Return the Rod to Mesitifo for him to transfer the Manitou safely away. 
5. Only one Manitou at a time can be captured in the rod.

With that he disappears and time starts ticking again. The rest of the patrons continue to move and they had no idea what just transpired. Over the next few days you start inquiring about the first Manitou that is supposedly in New Orleans. You check the papers and find nothing of real interest except for some missing people cases and an explosion out in the oil refineries near Lake Pontchartrain which killed several Hexaco workers. Anne-Marie Hille thought of looking for clues at a Voodoo establishment. While Cis decided to hit the books an learn more about these Manitous

The Dead Frog located in the Treme district was a well known back street Voodoo parlor. The place was empty except for an old black blind woman working the counter. Even though she was blind she could sense that a woman(Anne) and a man(Moritimer) was standing in her presence. She said she could help but needed only Anne to come back into the room with Moritimer to stay behind. She took a piece of Anne's hair and threw in many other ingredients into the cauldron that was black as night and said a few incantations. The old woman immediately became possessed with the Manitou...her eyes went from all white to all black. She spoke with a demonic voice and asked who was looking for the demon? The Manitou warned them to stay away or it will hurt all the people they ever cared for. With that it left the old woman's body as soon as Moritimer can rushing to the back room to see what was happening. 

Meanwhile, Cis and the others basically struck out researching the Manitous at the library. Only found a story from 2nd Lt. Matt Hazard of the 5th regiment Calvary about a Cheyenne war chief that could of been possessed by one of these devils and committed atrocious acts of violence by scalping a small town of settlers. The Calvary hunted the Indian down and shot him over 20 times. Lt. Hazard recollects that a weird mist came out of the eyes and nose of the Indian when it died.

You all met at Wolfs restaurant to collaborate on what you found while enjoying a Po' Boy. Cecil's old Navy buddy, Bubba Franks introduced himself and enjoyed your company. You asked him of any weird happenings in the area and just mentions his aunt who is extremely religious of bedding down with a few men who is very unlike her. You decide to check up on her to see if she is possessed with the Manitou.

Bubba's Aunt is very nice and offered you tea. You use the Rod on her and you get nothing. She does mention though she has seen a white fellow with a top hat and well dressed taking a few black boys with him which she thought was extremely odd...she mentioned the two boys looked to be in a haze when they walked by her while she was sitting on the porch.

Meanwhile...Delilah Starr has gone missing...see part II.

Investigation of the Missing Lady

Session 1

You found Emma Ross and saved her from the Blackhand...but Angel, one of the Capo's got away. Plus, poor 'Cis' Watkins got lead poisoning.

Session 2

You followed Emma Ross beau, Will Gretz, around New Orleans and took you to an abandoned Train warehouse depot. He spotted ya and ran off. But then you found the dead body of Will Gretz! Someone is pretending to be him and is doing a good job at it! That led you to Blessed Rest Retirement Home and found he used to work there and had interest in an ol timer who is bat shit crazy.

Session 3

You found out that there is a possibility that this SkinWalker changed skins again. There was a break in at Hellstromme Industries and it seems that a file worker may of done it(could it be the new skinwalker?)

You also had a good time at a plantation party on the outskirts of New Orleans. You also made a few bucks to boot!
Faye made herself a ward to protect her from an unknown evil?!?

Session 4

A very distraught young woman approached Cis Watkins and was worried about her lover, the filer for Hellstromme Industries. She was there that night when "Will Gretz" and gang kidnapped him. She did over hear the intruders ask about Bayou Vermillion but her lover didn't know anything...that wasn't good enough. She fears the worst but they did say they were going to a warehouse in the warehouse district of the city.

Faye woke up in the middle of the night to an awful sight. A gutted pig over her door. Who could have done this atrocious act?!?

You hired some muscle and went to the warehouse locked and loaded. Ready for anything! But you weren't prepared enough when two delivery trucks unloaded hordes of zombies along with cultists from the Red Sect! You took heavy losses...Cis and Arthur went down...both feared dead. Many of the hired muscle either died or fled. The police came and during the chaos you managed to grab your fallen comrades and escape to the hospital.

Session 5

You did some major sleuthing and found evidence pointing towards a serum that was heavily wanted by major parties (Government, Black Hand, and the Red Sect!)

You found the 4 barrels out in the bayou but one of them was gashed open and leaked. This caused an alligator to come back to life along with long dead bloat zombies killed a long time ago. You managed to dispose of them with the help of your guide. Now you are deciding on what to do with the other 3 barrels. Too big to bring back without heavy machinery....Faye mentioned..."We should destroy them..."

Session 6

You managed to destroy the barrels of reanimation fluid. Preventing the 4 factions from getting their hands on it. (Red Sect, Black Hand, Rangers, and Hellstromme Industries). You had some help from an automaton from Hellstromme industries and managed to take out 2 big groups of the Black Hand and Red Sect. You also lied about NOT finding the barrels to the Ranger Dauterive.

You ended up licking your wounds and celebrating at the Old Absinthe House listening to Delilah Starr. Until one of your groups old "friend" shows up and freezes everyone except you guys....but that is a story for another time.